New Survey By Ebay Reveals The Sneakers That Say The Most About Your Personality, From Confidence To Creativity
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By PAGE Editor
Our favorite sneakers may hold more information about us than we may think. In fact, a new survey conducted by eBay to 2,000 US respondents reveals that almost a quarter (24%) admit that the shoes someone is wearing can impact their first impression, with the colour, cost, brand, material and style all playing a part.
What sneakers say the most about you?
Sneakers are not only a type of footwear but are a way to express yourself, your style and convey your personality. In fact, one in five (20%) respondents admitted that the sneakers someone is wearing can define your character. Whether someone views you as confident, alternative or friendly could rely on a quick glance at your footwear.
But did you know that some sneakers say more about you than others?
From Nike Air Jordan 11 to adidas Samba, eBay's survey collected perceptions for 33 of the most popular sneaker models to find out which make the biggest impact.
The top three sneakers that make a lasting positive impression:
Nike Air Force 1
adidas Superstar
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Found in low, mid, super low, high and super high silhouettes, the Nike Air Force 1 was first released in 1982 and is one of the world’s most loved sneakers of all time. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise then that the study found that almost one in 10 Americans (9%) believe this sneaker to be the most personality-defining.
Men and women’s opinions on the most impactful sneaker differ, with men believing that the Nike Air Jordan 1 reveals the most about someone’s personality, whilst women say it’s the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star.
Sneakers are worn as a way to express yourself, with every make and model indicating something slightly different. Participants assigned different personal traits — from confidence to adventurousness — to 33 different sneakers to determine which makes and models are associated with each of these attributes the most.
Trait | Most associated sneaker |
Confident - Nike Air Jordan 1
Extroverted - Nike Air Jordan 1
Alternative - Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Stylish - Nike Air Jordan 1
Down to earth - Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Professional - Nike Air Jordan 3
Creative - Vans Sk8-Hi
Adventurous- Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Famously worn on the court by the legendary Michael Jordan since 1984, the Nike Air Jordan 1 has been associated with the most personality traits. Almost one in five respondents perceive people wearing this sneaker as stylish, whilst 16% of Americans deemed people wearing the Nike Air Jordan 1 to be confident.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star (commonly known as the Converse All Star) is also seen to suggest several character types. Participants alleged to perceive those wearing these sneakers as the most down to earth, as well as the most alternative and adventurous.
City of residence also suggests how differently we perceive a pair of kicks. For a person based in Austin, adidas Stan Smith are perceived to be the most stylish, whereas those in San Antonio find people wearing Nike Air Huarache as down to earth. Adventurous and down to earth are two personality traits that Washingtonians view people wearing a pair of Nike Air Foamposite.
Wearing the right shoes can be a real boost to your confidence, and whilst the Nike Air Jordan range comes out triumphantly as the ultimate sneaker to accomplish this, men see the Nike Air Jordan 5 as the biggest confidence indicator, compared to women who opt for the Nike Air Jordan 1 classics.
How many pairs of sneakers does the average American own?
As people’s love for sneakers continues to grow, so do their collections. On average, each American owns six pairs of sneakers.
Interestingly, eBay’s study found that men have a larger sneaker collection than women. Women owned six pairs on average, while men owned one more on average at seven pairs.
25-34 year olds on the other hand own the biggest collections of all age groups with nine pairs. 35-44 and 16-24 year olds round off the top three with eight and seven pairs of sneakers, respectively.
The table below shows the states with the largest collection of sneakers, on average:
Rank | U.S. State | Average number of sneakers per person
Nevada 19
2. Arkansas 11
3. South Dakota 10
4. North Dakota, Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, Delaware, California, Wisconsin, Virginia 8
5. Minnesota, New York, Indiana, Alabama, West Virginia 7
The study also found that San Antonio was the city which is home to the biggest sneakerheads. On average, a San Antonian owns an impressive 12 pairs of sneakers.
The top five US cities with the biggest sneaker collections:
Rank | U.S. City | Average number of sneakers per person
San Antonio 12
2. Austin 10
3. Los Angeles 10
4. New York 8
5. Detroit 7
With an average of 20 pairs of sneakers, sports and leisure workers were the profession with the largest collection. Recruiters follow closely behind with 14 pairs on average, and bankers in third with 12 pairs.
What do sneakers mean to Americans?
eBay’s study found that over one in five (22%) of 35 - 44 year olds believe that sneakers are the most important item in a closet.
The versatility that comes with styling sneakers makes it no surprise that the majority of those from the capital hold them in high regard in their closet. 71% of Washington D.C. residents believe that sneakers are the most significant item in a closet. Wyomingites follow closely behind and Nebraskans round off the top three (at 52% and 44% respectively).
With many of us viewing sneakers as a staple item in our wardrobe, it’s no wonder that almost a quarter (24%) of participants have agreed that the shoes someone is wearing can have an impact on their first impression of them. A further 15% admitted to defining someone based on the individual’s choice in sneakers alone.
The study found that Charlotte, the most populated city in North Carolina is the US city most likely to make an opinion about someone they meet for the first time based on their footwear (30%).
Your choice in sneakers can say a lot about your personality, and those in Idaho agree. Over half (55%) of those surveyed in this state claim that the sneakers you wear say a lot about you. Nebraska followed behind, with 40% of people from the state agreeing with this statement.
Sneakers in the workplace
As sneakers become a part of our everyday wardrobe, people have become more comfortable wearing them to different social settings, including work. A third (33%) of respondents would not consider someone wearing sneakers to work unprofessional.
In fact, 23% of 35 - 44 year olds and 20% of 25 - 34 year olds believe that wearing sneakers to work is modern and forward-thinking - highlighting just how much culture and attitudes have changed towards wearing this type of footwear in a professional setting.
If you are thinking about wearing sneakers to the office, consider the Nike Air Jordan 3 as respondents deemed these the most professional pair.
What do your sneakers say about you?
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